Page 111 of Melting the Ice

No. He wouldn’t let himself finish that thought.

He wasn’t going to let himself get too carried away.

“Not easy, but worth every minute,” Ian said. He looked over at Dean. “Carter’s actually looking forward to meeting up, on the field.”

“I wouldn’t be playing against him.” That would be the corner’s job, for whatever team he ended up on. A thankless job, because Carter was damn good.

“Oh, he knows. But that’s the thing about Carter. He always wants to be the best, and that means going up against the best.”

“Well tell him to give Flynn two years and I’ll be tackling his ass to the ground.” Dean referred to the Condors’ quarterback, Riley Flynn.

“Oh, he knows,” Ian said with amusement. “I think the whole NFL’s holding their breath, waiting for you to come in and be the wrecking ball we all know you can be.”

“Damn straight,” Dean said, nodding. He glanced over at Brody, and the pride shining in his eyes there meant the world—but it also meant that Brody was perfectly okay with sending him off to wherever.

Damn it.

They finished up their meal, Brody shooting Dean a quick glance before he paid the check for the whole table. “I know,” he mentioned under his breath to Dean after they’d said their goodbyes to Ian, “that you’ve got to be super careful about money and him.”

“Yeah.” Dean nodded. “Can’t even take a bottle of water from the guy.”

“It’s stupid,” Brody said.

“Yeah, a little.” They lingered outside Jimmy’s. Dean wanted to suggest going back to the apartment, but he didn’t want to be the first one to suggest it, either. Still, he had homework to do. Even on a Saturday night. Even on a Saturday night after winning a football game.

But first, Dean wanted to tell Brody—even if it was only in words—how much it had meant to him that he’d showed up today.

“I’m real glad you came,” Dean confessed. “Didn’t even know I wanted you in the stands until there you were, waiting for me to get out of the locker room.”

Brody smiled. “I hoped you’d feel that way. I even got Ramsey to go with me.”

“You brought Ramsey?”

“Yeah, he ducked out right after, to go to some party, but he’s real proud of you too,” Brody said.

“Even if I play football?”

“I think it’s actually growing on him a bit, but I didn’t tell you that,” Brody said with a low chuckle that lit up all of Dean’s nerves. God, he wanted to feel that sound against his bare skin. He was so gone for this man. And it wasn’t even surprising that it was a man; it was only surprising that he’d fallen foranyone.

“’Course not,” Dean said.

“Actually, I’ve got to go to the library. Meet Gina, my lab partner, and work on one of our reports.” Brody shoved his hands into his jean pockets and Dean had an inkling that maybe this was as awkward for Brody as it was for him. The difference was that Brody made everything look so coolly effortless because he looked likethat.

Brody hadn’t invited him, but he said anyway, “You mind if I join you? I’ll just stick my headphones in. I’ve got a lot of reading to do, and a paper to write.”

Dean had half-expected Brody to say no, but to his surprise he nodded, looking unexpectedly pleased that he’d invited himself. “Oh yeah, sure. I’m sure . . .uh . . .Gina would love to finally meet you.”

Dean raised an eyebrow. “You told your lab partner about me?”

Now, Brody lookedreallyflustered. “Well, you told your prospective agent aboutme.”

“Yeah,” Dean admitted.

“Just, you’ve been stealing me away for homework time. Usually that’s what Gina does. I had to tell her who it was.”

“Right.” Dean bumped Brody’s shoulder. “That’s all it was.”

“It was,” Brody retorted, but the pleased look in his eyes told therealstory.

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